SDAFE - Software Defined Analog Front End

by Vytas SinkeviciusJuly 15, 2018

Industrial Automation relies on reading field variables that are still predominantly analog values like 4-20 mA, 1 to 5 VDC, and 0 to 10 VDC. These analog signals can be representative of temperature, pressure, gas, flow, etc. Isolation plays a big part in eliminating ground loops and improving signal quality.

VP Process Inc. has released the SDAFE™, a Software Defined Analog Front End module. This small module (1.9" x 0.95") can be set via it's SPI interface to be either 4-20 mA, 1 to 5 VDC, or 0 to 10 VDC input (other ranges available) and is available as an Isolated (2.5KV Isolation) module:

VPE-3001B SDAFE™

or as a Non-Isolated Module:

VPE-3051B SDAFE™

The PI-SPI-DIN Automation Series of products have SDAFE's available as their primary analog inputs, and an expansion module is available to allow for up to 80 SDAFE™ analog channels to be used as one system.